Cul-de-sac homes demanded by some NJ buyers

Just like a pool or finished basement, living on a cul-de-sac is a must for certain home buyers in the Garden State.

And while simply being on a cul-de-sac doesn't jack up a home's value, the price at which it is purchased can get up there if the bidding features buyers who demand that type of living scenario.

"I live on a cul-de-sac and because there's no through traffic, the only people who are coming down are the people who live on it and so it makes it a little bit safer," said Tg Glazer, president of New Jersey Realtors.

Glazer, who lives in Cranford, said cul-de-sac neighborhoods are typically quieter, more private and can provide a close-knit sense of community that's not seen on most side streets.

And they're not your typical dead-end roads. Their circular finishes are a unique design that make it easier for cars to turn around. Homeowners in these neighborhoods can be spotted parking head-on towards the curb of the cul-de-sac (French for "bottom of a sack").

A real estate agent in Monmouth County told New Jersey 101.5 cul-de-sac homes typically stay on the market for a shorter period of time compared to homes on streets that connect one road to another.

In a 2016 survey from the National Association of Home Builders, nearly 80 percent of Baby Boomers said they prefer cul-de-sac lot designs, mainly due to traffic flow.

There are some downsides: During major snow storms, cul-de-sacs and dead-ends are often the last streets to be plowed in some municipalities because of the difficulty plows have in maneuvering them.